WEBVTT ADDICTS TO TAKE THEIR FIRST STEPTOWARDS TREATMENT.THE NEW A.C.P. REPORT SAYS22.5 MILLION AMERICANS NEED ATREATMENT FOR AN ILLICIT DRUG ORALCOHOL PROBLEM IN 2014.BUT ONLY 18% ACTUALLY RECEIVETREATMENT.NOW THE GROUP IS ADVOCATING FORNEW GUIDELINES TO ALLOW MOREPEOPLE WITH ADDICTION GET THEHELP THEY NEED.>> I THINK IT'S HELPFUL.REPORT DR. GOODMANTIS CHIEFMEDICAL OFFICER AT CATHOLICMEDICAL CENTER IN MANCHESTER.HE SAYS THE REPORT IS ASKINGPHYSICIANS TO LOOK AT DRUGADDICTION AS MORE THAN AONE-TIME EVENT.>> IT'S A CHRONIC BRAIN DISEASEAND PEOPLE BECOME ADDICTED TOTHE REWARDS AND THE PLEASURETHAT THE DRUGS GIVE THEM.BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT LEADS TOADDICTION AND LONG-TERM ABUSE.REPORTER: UNDER THE GUIDELINES,HE SAYS TREATMENT WOULD BELOOKED AT AS A LONG-TERM CAREPROCESS.>> THE TYPICAL PARADIGM IS TOTRY TO SCREEN AND IDENTIFY THECHRONIC DISEASE, JUST LIKEHYPERTENSION OR DIABETES ANDONCE YOU TREAT THEM KEEP THEM INLONG-TERM RECOVERY WHICH IS LIKEA CHRONIC DISEASE, JUST LIKEONCE YOU GET YOUR BLOOD UNDERCONTROL YOU DON'T STOP TAKINGYOUR PILLS OR START CONSUMINGMORE SALT.IT'S A CHRONIC DISEASE, CHRONICMANAGEMENT.REPORTER: MORE SUPPORTLY,DR. GOODMAN SAYS IF ADDICTION ISTREATED AS A DISEASE, PATIENTSWILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLETALKING ABOUT IT.>> THERE WILL BE LESS STIGMAAROUND THIS AND PEOPLE WILL BEMORE LIKELY TO GET THE HELP THEYNEED.BECAUSE STIGMA DOES GET IN THEWAY.REPORTER: THE GUIDELINES ALSOASKING DOCTORS TO CHECK THESTATE PRESCRIPTION DRUG RENTINGSTREETS PRIOR TO WRITINGPRESCRIPTIONS TO SEE WHAT THEIRPATIENTS WERE PREVIOUSLYPRESCRIBED.HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT IS